Friday, December 29, 2006

Yesterday from 1:00 - 8:00 PM at the Apollo Theater in Harlem the Hardest working man in show business, Soul Brother #1, Mr. Dynamite, The Minister of the New New Super Heavy Funk, Mr. Please Please Please, The Boss, The Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown will be viewed by thousands of friends, family, and fans one last time. One of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century, James Brown's R&B in the sixties and the funk of the seventies has influenced so much of American music. His music is the foudation of hip hop, taught Prince how to dance, Sly Stone how to shout and Marvin Gaye to croon . The consumate entertainer was still on tour, at age 73, when he died. James Brown lead his super tight band for decades. But he didn't stop there. He was politically and socially active and outspoken. "Say it Loud! I'm Black and I'm Proud!" He will be missed and will be remembered as one of the largest and most influential musical and cultural American icons. Alas, there will be no cape for him to throw off tonight.

Another American figure has left us in these last days of 2006. President Gerald Ford has died at age 93. His funeral began today. President Ford took over for the most notorious president in modern times, richard nixon, after nixon resigned in disgrace. Stating in his Inaugural Address "My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over." President Ford presided over the final withdrawl of US troops from Vietnam and some would say healed this nation from the anger and sadness that seemed to engulf it during the end of sixties and early seventies. Ford may be remembered by most as the man that granted "a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed or taken part in" before nixon was even tried. It is interesting that here we are in a time where it is not completely unthinkable for the current president to resign in disgrace. We too are a nation angered and saddened by war and scandal. Who would be our Ford? And how about all of the old photos of President Ford with his staff, including a young dick cheney, a young don rumsfeld, and a young james baker. Seems the last three (four counting Jr.) republican presidencies were run by the same guys. If their faces have remained the same over the years, who should be blamed for the current failure. But that's not for today. Today we remember two figures in American History. Thank you both for all you've done for Our Country and its culture.

"I don't think, if I had been president, on the basis of the facts as I saw them publicly," he said, "I don't think I would have ordered the Iraq war. I would have maximized our effort through sanctions, through restrictions, whatever, to find another answer." "I just don't think we should go hellfire damnation around the globe freeing people, unless it is directly related to our own national security."-President Gerald Ford July 2004

Friday, December 22, 2006

'Tis the season or so they say, but if it's a cute christmas greeting, funny holiday photoshopping, or a special last minute X-Mas coupon you're lookin' for, then you should probably just hit delete now.

Despite the fact that Marijuana is officially the biggest cash crop of the United States (watch for the crackdown, hippies), Our country is not run by the peaceniks. The failure in chief and senator mccain (currently the only red that stands a chance in '08) are both "pushing" for an additional United States troops to be sent to Iraq and not just into the 10 hours or less a day electrified capital city. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Military (the top generals in Our Country) have come out against the idea, not that lil' bush will listen to his generals this time either. The top general, General Abizaid, disagrees so viamently that he's retiring. It's interesting to watch past supporters of Our "delusional" president jump ship. Maybe they're realizing that the ill conceived quagmire that their choice chose to get Our Country into is going so dreadfully wrong. The violence in Iraq is at levels probably unseen even during saddam's reign and is increasing every day. Maybe that's why the Pentagon is asking for $99,700,000,000.00 more for the war that even bush now admits "we are not winning" of course adding "we're not losing" to which everyone's favorite funny man replied "Are we covering the spread?". It just makes me sick to see the failure in chief and his fox news press "man" talking about a "listening tour" that he should have been on before he rushed us into this mess. It makes me sick to see headlines like "Iraqi Army Plans for Wider Role" What the hell was the plan before? There are 960 attacks a week in Iraq. The violence is at new record levels. And we can't even seem to get up to speed. Looking for a reason for impeachment? How about the inability to lead a country in time of war?

At least Congress can start off cleaner in 2007, now that the red lead, do nothing 109th has cleared it's leadership of any failings while one of their own preyed upon the underage/barely legal page boys in his care over the last few years. They also, more grudgingly I'm sure, have cleared incoming Senate Majority Harry Reid of all corruption charges. I can't until old 28% approval has to play nice with the likes or Conyers, Waxman, Leahy, Pelosi, and Reid. And don't mind the red ambulance chasers, Senator Johnson will be fine and will be back. The Democrats will lead Congress.

So cut down an old evergreen, make paper out of a couple more, light as many strands of twinkling lights as your outlets can handle and down some doused eggnog. 'Tis the season everybody, ENJOY! Have a great Winter Solstice! However you celebrate it.

Saturday, December 09, 2006

Whether in the Defense Department, the United States Congress, or bush's war of choice in Iraq, it's seems that there's a whiff of change in the air.

Former member of the Iraq Study Group, former Head of the CIA under poppa bush, and most recently former President of Texas A&M, Robert Gates has been appointed, with overwhelming support, to the postition of Secretary of Defense, leaving rumsfeld time for possible future court battles. One point that everyone is keyed in on from his hearings was his difference in opinion with the lame duck prince on whether we are winning in Iraq. Senator John McCain asked "We are not winning the war in Iraq. Is that correct?" Mr. Gates replied "That is my view, yes, sir." Then mccain followed with "And therefore, the status quo is not acceptable?" to which Gates answered "That is correct, sir." A vast departure to the president's "Absolutely, we’re winning." To be fair, he did say that all the way back in October of 2006. Words and phrases like fresh, a different set of eyes, all options are on the table, pepper Gates's congressional testimony. Hopefully this isn't all just wrapping paper to gain the bipartisan support of Congress. We shall see.

Speaking of Congress, yesterday marked the red leadership's last day. Can you see the smile on my face? (Sorry, I'm really trying to be bipartisan, I swear). The incoming Democratic Leadership has been doing a lot of talking about their "First 100 Hours" in power, and the changes in governmnent that will be made once they take their seats in January. One of my favorites is the incoming ChairWoman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works , Barbara Boxer. She had this to say. "Any kind of weakening of environmental laws or secrecy or changes in the dead of night it's over," Boxer said. "We're going to for once, finally, make this committee an environment committee, not an anti-environment committee. … This is a sea change that is coming to this committee." Not to be outdone, soon to be House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer came out with the new congressional work schedule. Can you imagine an actual 5 day work week for Congress? Currently they are working from Tuesday to Thursday afternoon. Maybe that's what the reds meant by "small government". Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.), who typically flies home on Thursdays and returns to Washington on Tuesdays had this to say “Marriages suffer. The Democrats could care less about families — that’s what this says.” You must be kidding! Give us all three day work weeks! You know, for our families.

And finally the Iraq Study Group has come out with its report. The grim assessment of what's happening presently in Iraq starts at the top of the "Executive Summary" with "The situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating". And even though they admit in the first line of the report "There is no magic formula to solve the problems of Iraq" they put together a 150+ page plan to try. Of course it was not in their charter to look into the what, who, and how we got into what Al "An Inconvenient Truth" Gore has called "the worst strategy mistake in the history of the United States". There are two major points the Iraq Study Group make that stick out to me at this point (I haven't read the whole thing yet). First, the countries in the region, including Iran and Syria, need to be brought to the table to help settle the crisis in Iraq. No one will be served by all out chaos in Iraq, why not try to negotiate with the most powerful nations in the region. The second explains how the commitment of United States combat troops must not be open ended. The Iraqi government needs to know that US troops will not be there forever, and will leave them to chaos if progress is not made. No one is sure how the president will handle the 79 recommendations the comission has presented, but one thing is for sure. This report is another rebuke of the way this war is being executed, much like the last election was. There needs to be a change in policy in Iraq that discusses what is best for Our country and not just what's better for Halliburton or bush's legacy. This "study group" was really a political think tank made up of 5 big reds and five big democrats. They were not military experts, or middle east experts for that matter. They have given real thoughtful observations and suggestions and have started the ball rolling on this essential discussion. If only this discussion had happened three years ago.

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

There's been a new sloganization of the bushco.'s war of choice in Iraq, and it's even more repulsive than "stay the course" and "cut and run" . Now we have "go big, go long, or go home". This is the slogan that insiders have come away from the Pentagon with.

Go Big. The idea is that we send in tens of thousands of additional soldiers in to stop the Growing violence, and take control of at least the capital which we shocked and awed almost 4 years ago. More soldiers are already going in to Baghdad via the "stop loss" program that will keep soldiers on after they've served their year in. Now it may be true that if we went in with an overwhelming ground force of 200,000+ we may have squashed this violence before it had time to ferment. Changing the leadership while maintaining the existing Iraqi army may have also helped. We can not go back in time. This war has not been executed properly nor was it planned for adequately. It may be too late for an additional 20, 000 or so to make any real change in the violence that has grown in strength and precision over the past four years.

Go Long. The idea is that we stay there, as a major force, for the next five to ten years, if not longer. With the biggest, most expensive US "embassy" being built in Baghdad, there's no doubt that there will be troops in Iraq for a long, long time. The question is what troop level will remain and will they still be standing in front and in charge of Iraqi forces. The citizens of both the United States and Iraq are already calling for the United States military to leave, what will they be saying ten years from now. Not to mention where will the troops come from and how will we continue paying for bushco.'s war of choice.

Which brings us to Go Home. First reports on the Baker-Hamilton commission's final report seem to show the Iraq Study Group suggesting a gradual troop reduction starting "as early" as next year. The democrats suggest a redeployment in the "region". Unfortunately this administration had no exit strategy for this war of choice, except for cleaning off the "sweets and flowers", and parading home under a big banner reading "mission accomplished". Colin Powell recently has said the administration needs to be realistic and call what's going on in Iraq what it is "a civil war". Whatever the terminology we use, it's bad in Iraq, and getting worse. The question is will violence escalate, remain the same or worsen if we leave in major numbers. Frustrated Iraqis have been waiting for steady electricity, clean water, and jobs for the four years since bushco. invaded, defeating a defiant WMD-less dictator and leaving chaos for Iraqis to figure out. The president demanding a plan from maliki to end the sectarian violence seems a little like passing the buck to me. It was bush and his minions of neocons that forced and created this situation. How do we build a nation in Our image, in a region where the only nation that really comes close was appointed by the US and Europe fifty years ago? I'm glad to see that countries in the region, including Iran, Syria, and Jordan, may finally be asked to the table, despite what bush has to say about it. Iran may be the biggest winner in all of this, loosing an adversary in saddam hussein, and gaining a nation ruled by Shiites to maybe one day battle the Saudis' Sunnis for the world's oil (minus the oil Chavez, who was just re-elected by a landslide, wants to give America's poor for cheap).

The quelling of looting and lawlessness or as rumsfeld put it "stuff" in the beginning of the invasion may have instilled a little more faith than 4 years without steady power, water, sanitation, or security, which is what Iraqis have gotten so far. That and a government citizens are currently throwing rocks at. The dangerous rift forming between muqtada al-sadr and the maliki government may be a way to give maliki the cover of saying to bush that he can't push too hard for fear of his government falling apart. But even if this conspiracy theory is true, it's not a good sign for the US if two major parties in Iraq are conspiring to fool us. If it is not a political ploy, then the Shiite al sadr follower walk outs spell real trouble.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The Democrats have a heckuva job cut out for them starting in January. The job has two fronts, accountability and governance. The people who were responsible for the false evidence (i.e. forged Niger doc's) and its dissemination, misleading the public during the administration's rush to war in Iraq, need to be held accountable. The people responsible for the millions, if not billions, of dollars missing and/or handed out in no bid and unfinished contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq need to be held accountable. The government officials that have committed crimes, abused their power, or covered for their colleagues' actions need to be held accountable. The people who allowed "energy"companies to write "energy" policy and "drug" companies to write the prescription drug bill need to be held accountable. For these lapses in judgment and others, there needs to be hearings and investigations that have teeth and put officials, including the president and vice president, UNDER OATH. For most of these transgressions, the buck should stop squarely at the Oval Office. That is not to say that Articles of Impeachment should be presented to the House right away, but if the hearings necessary to re instill trust in Our government lead to the president or those he has appointed, then impeachment or censure may follow.

It is important however for the Democrats to be bigger than the republicans have been for the past 6 years. Not only do they need to investigate who fouled up, lied, and misled us, but they have to do so while finding solutions to the mess the president and his minions have gotten us into. They are going to need to be open to discussion among their own party and across the aisle (something the reds refused to do). The "you're either with us or you're against" attitude must be put to bed, as should the un-American "a vote for their party is a vote for the terrorists".

On Iraq, "Cut and run" was never a solution put out by the Democrats. It was just another fear mongering catch phrase from the propagandists who brought you "Mission Accomplished", "Shock and Awe", and "Stay the Course". The Baker-Hamilton Iraq Group, who met with the president on Monday, will more than likely give options that Washington will wrap themselves around, much like the 911 Commission that Hamilton co-chaired (a commission whose recommendations may actually be fully implemented now that the Democrats run Congress). A unified democratic government in Iraq does not seem feasible at this point. Some are suggesting that it be split up into three ethnic divisions with a national government overseeing and dividing up the oil revenue. That may be all we can hope for at this point, though it may not solve the sectarian clashes we see more and more everyday. I do think it is a better option than Senator McCain's "send 20,000 more troops".

The Democratic party is diverse, from "blue dogs" to progressives. Some are trying to spin the election as a victory for only conservative and moderate democrats, but to be a party of the people means you have to have the differing voices of a diverse American public. We saw what making policies for only a "base" has done over the past six years. That time is over. For those of us still calling for blood immediately, why not focus solely on hacks like coulter and limbaugh, or on fox news, whose recently leaked memo shows a REAL BIAS in the media.

I smile at the spin of the November 7th losers who are trying their best to convince Democrats of Democrat infighting. It's important not to give them any credence. It has only been nine days since the election, and there is going to be a lot of discussion on a variety of issues from party leadership to Iraq to ethics reform. Some issues like the drilling in ANWR and the privatizing of Social Security, are most likely off the table all together, while issues like raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 per hour are on. Regardless of the issue, once in power, the Democrats need to do what the republicans in Congress have not done for the past six years. They need to govern, and govern for the common good. It's time to put policy before politics, and people before party. The smallest of nudges in this direction would make last Tuesday worth it, beyond just putting the breaks on an out of control executive and its soon to be ex-rubber stamp legislative branch.

For those of us on the winning side of the election, Hells Yeah! We kicked their asses. The Democrats did not lose one, democratically held or open, governorship, seat in the House, or seat in the Senate to the republican side. And to the deflated reds, here's a message from Michael Moore titled "A Liberal's Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives".

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Tuesday's vote was a clear and unmistakable message from the people of the United States of America that a new direction for Our Country is needed, that the president needs to be held in check and accountable for his policies and actions, and that the supposed "genius" of karl rove, the robo calling and other election day malfesance of republicans, and the "your vote doesn't matter" attitude can all be overcome by the power of the people. Through the hard work of people like Howard Dean, Rahm Emanuel, bloggers, netrooters, and countless people who texted, emailed, canvassed, and called people to get out the vote on election day, a voice was heard round the world. And that voice was Ours. Not only did the Democrats win the House, at least tie the Senate, and expand their majorities among Governors and state legislatures, but they also knocked out ten and twelve term incumbents in the process. The abortion ban in South Dakota was defeated. The ban on same sex marriage in Arizona was defeated, and Missouri voted to back stem cell research (thank you rush limbaugh). The number three red in the Senate was knocked on his "man on dog" ass in Pennsylvania. The exiled tom delay's seat went Democrat. Page lover Foley's seat went democrat, and for the first time in a long time there are Democratic Governors in Ohio and Massachusetts. It was a referendum on Iraq, on corruption, and on fear mongering. The red clouds parted to reveal a blue sky (sorry, i'm still a little giddy).

The first one under the bus is rumsfeld, who resigned today. Rumsfeld has presided over bush's failed policies in the execution of the neo-con war of choice in Iraq. This is a major concession for the president who does not admit mistakes, because of an arrogance, which seems to be shared by all the yes men and women he surrounds himself with. The rejection he feels today must be overwhelming. It is a major reality check for a president and party who felt it unneccesary to even consult the minority party. A party so focused on the base that it lost its moderates. A wake up call for an administration who thought that slandering the messenger and stifling dissent were the only ways to deal with those who disagree with them. Now they must deal with the opposition if they want to get anything done. Now they have to be bi-partisan. What karl rove once called the "permanent republican majority" is gone. In its place, possible Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Chairman of Goverment Reform Henry Waxman, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee John Murtha and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee John Conyers. What a difference an election makes.

The new buzz word from the White House..... bipartisan, only this time they're gonna have to mean it.

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Well the Blue Wave claimed 27 House seats that once were red, claiming the House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years. As of right now (1:15pm, 11/8) the Democrats have taken 5 formerly red Senate seats to tie the Senate, with only Virginia to be recounted (the latest count has Democrat Jim Webb ahead). Six Governor seats were picked up by Democrats to increase their majority (Massachusetts has its first Dem. Governor in over ten years), not to mention the State legislatures across the country that went blue. My favorite victory was Senator-Elect Casey's win over Uber-bush backing conservative rick santorum in Pennsylvania. Kenneth blackwell's defeat for Governor of Ohio was pretty sweet too, as was Senator-Elect Brown victory over soon to be ex-senator dewine. Blackwell was the secretary of state in Ohio that called 2004 for bush as that campaign started.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

There are 435 House races, 33 Senate races, and a slew for Governer tomorrow. The Democrats need to pick up 15 House seats and 6 Senate seats from the republicans to win back both Houses of Congress and begin to re-establish the legislative branch as an equal branch the of Our goverment.

If you don't know for sure where your polling place is check here. For New Jersey, specifically, check here. Make sure you use the address you are REGISTERED as a voter at.

If you're not sure if you're registered (it's a little late now) you can call your County Registrar to check.

Bring your ID/Driver's License to the polls tomorrow. Just in case.

If you want to "do more than vote" tomorrow to help the Democrats' cause, go here.

Don't forget to Vote! It's the only thing we got, and some question even that.

Bring a friend, call/text everyone in your cell phone, email your address book and tell them to vote. We still are a DEMOCRATIC republic. Let's keep it that way.

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Nevermind the war games going on in Iran this week, did you hear 2004's biggest loser botched a bad joke? How about the morally corrupt President of the National Association of Evangelicals resigning over monthly relations with a gay prostitute? Is that what the evangelical gwb is talking about? Is he talking about Iraq? Working families? The rising cost of living? Stagnant wages? Health Care? No the campaigner in chief is out there telling us that voting for democrats is voting for terrorists. How incredibly UN-AMERICAN. How completely proposterous. This "let's break it so we have to fix and pay for it" administration is as incompetent in its prosecution of its own unneccesary war as it was in it's four days late reponse to Katrina. Bush played guitar as people drowned. Condi bought shoes. Bush left vacation for the Terry Schiavo fiasco, but stayed while the poor Louisianans scrawled "Help Us" on their rooftops.

The United States of America has chance to show the president how real Mr. Olbermann's sentiment is. The election on Tuesday is a National one. In 1996 and 2000 I could argue all night, the reasons behind a non vote or a vote for a candidate more particularly in line with my progressive beliefs. This election is about ensuring that there are checks and balances on the executive branch of Our THREE BRANCH government. This administration has aggressively trimmed the once equal legislative and judicial branches. The rubber stamp republicans have given the executive a blank check to use the strength of Our military at his and only his discretion, doing away with Declarations of War. A person can be jailed, treated in any inhumane way attorney general gonzales sees fit, for as long as the administration wants to detain them, all on the bush created distinction of "enemy combatant" that the president can bestow as he sees fit. Think about it, you get put on a list by mistake or say the wrong thing in the wrong place, and boom. When can you defend yourself, when will you see the now admittable hearsay evidence they "have" against you? This is not American. They question my partiotism, as the Rude Pundit recently put it "Fuck Them". Keep in mind Sunday's Saddam verdict/November surprise. You think bushco. had a hand in that timetable? Maybe it was a trade off for the Iraqi government forcing US troops to leave a soldier behind in Sadr City, Iraq. Oh Iraq, what a mess.

Now I don't know if the popular vote matters (Democrats in congress already represent more people than republicans), I don't know about all these glitches they are already finding in voting machines, and I know they cheated/gerrymandered their way to victory in the past. But the public's sentiment is changing. They are starting to feel betrayed, lied to, and fed up with an unending war and an economy strong with the "investor class" and weak on the "working class", not to mention the poor. There is a reason that Democrats are using images of bush in their ads and republicans aren't. There is a reason Democrats are talking about Iraq in their ads and the republicans aren't. The republicans have failed. All they have to campaign on is fear and false claims.

On Tuesday November 7, Vote for a check on this out of control executive branch. Vote out the rubber stamp of a republican led congress that are afraid to question the president. Vote for a new vision. Vote for the Common Good. Vote Democrat right down the line. We'll clean Our House after we start cleaning theirs.

Feel free to reproduce and distribute this wherever and to whomever you want.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

As the foley scandal's cover up gets closer and closer to the Speaker of the House, it's hard to pay attention to anything else. And now, with today's guilty plea, you can add soon to be ex-congressman bob ney (r) of Ohio to the ever growing republican scandal sheet or as some like to call it the republican "culture of corruption". Who can pay attention to the fact that North Korea is said to have tested a nuCLEar weapon? (Though there is no hard evidence of it yet)

Responsible has a few definitions. One of which is "chargeable with being the author, cause, or occasion of something (usually fol. by for): Termites were responsible for the damage." The disgraced republican congressman bob ney distributed a statement to reporters today after his plea and in it he said “I accept responsibility for my actions, and I am prepared to face the consequences of what I have done,” When someone is responsible for something they must face the consequences. It takes more than the speaker of the house just saying he takes responsibility for the foley scandal and cover up. It takes more than the president just saying he was responsible for the federal (lack of) response to hurricane katrina. There needs to be consequences. The only way that is going to happen is if we vote for people that will hold them accountable, that will ask hard questions and enforce tough consequences. The Democrats will question.

Saturday, September 30, 2006

With the moral and ethical standing of the United States at an all time low, this administration and its rubber stamp republican Congress has made it perfectly legitimate for Our soldiers to be tortured by their captors, according to what the president decides that to mean on any given day, they can be detained indefinitely after their arrest, I mean abduction since there doesn't have to be any charges, and if/when they do go to the "military tribunal", hearsay evidence from people who would probably say anything for fear of drowning, electricution, or being eaten by dogs will be admissable (as long as it was prior to Dec. 2005 or as I call them, with bile in my throat, the abu ghraib days). And of course the bill, passed by this pathetic Congress (Friggin' Menendez was a yeah), retroactively allows all the felonies committed and okayed by this administration, the CIA, and others against the War Crimes Act. A very slippery slope indeed. At least they are not allowed to rape and kill prisoners anymore, right?

The 5 days it took to get a helicopter to the drowning poor people in New Orleans.

Are these not high crimes or misdeanors? If not, are they not examples of an administration, incompotent and unable to lead. The oath sworn is an oath to "uphold the Constitution of the United States". Mr. bush has not. But it was Clinton who got a BJ (NSFW but a hilarious song/video).

Friday, September 22, 2006

Iraq is getting deadlier. Afghanistan is getting worse. And Darfur is still in a state of "genocide" that the president acknowledged some time ago, but has yet to do anything substantial about. I wonder what rover's "October surprise" could be.

Maybe the surprise will come in form of osama bin laden, whose capture the president has flipped flopped from "wanted dead or alive" to "not that concerned about him" on. Maybe that's why Pakistan was allowed to make the deal with the Taliban/al qaeda buds on it's border. You know, because they finally got him.

Wouldn't we all be surprised if it was announced that the president understands that the Geneva Conventions should not be circumvented. Realizing that doing so legitimizes acts of torture and inhumane treatment, which would then be allowed to be inflicted on our men and women in or out of uniform, not to mention what circumventing the Geneva Convention does to Our already diminished ethical and moral standing in the world.

And speaking of that standing, maybe the surprise will be in the form of foreign dignitaries, aside from Prime Minister blair, once again standing by the United States because of changes in this administration's (strike first) doctrine and (hands off unless there's oil) foreign policy. It pains me to agree with leaders who rule with an iron fist, who do not allow Freedom of Speech in their own country, when they say the president talks "as the owner of the world". It pains me to understand the hypocrisies of Our Country's "behavior" in the world, especially when that idea is brought up from a man that denies the existence of the holocaust. It pains me even more when the United Nations, itself, condemns the policy of Our president. We must lead by example. We must inspire. I fear that we are becoming one of "them".

Speaking of what pains me, the surprise certainly would be welcome if it came in the form of ending the massive killing and ethnic cleansing going on in Darfur. 400,000 people killed. More than 2,000,000 refugees forced from their homes. Does it really take George Clooney to tell us what the right thing to do is?

It would be a surprise if the president came out, like the pope has, and apologize for enraging a religion's worth of people with his comments about "islamic fascists" and the "third awakening" of christianity.

Condemning military coups, like the recent one in Thailand, and supporting the democratically elected government would certainly be a surprise.

I guess we'll see what the surprise turns out to be. My guess is it'll be about something nobody is talking about right now. I wish he would surprise us all and resign.

Saturday, September 09, 2006

With another superior "special comment" for Keith Obermann fresh in mind (This time about bush, aka shrub). I look onto my "internets" for the trials and tribulations of a body politic and a nation divided...

First there was bush admitting to the cia secret prisons that the Supreme Court shot down and the Washington Post reported on and were called treasonous for. The president, who approved of this unconstitutional illegality, called on Congress to set the rules five years into our detention and interrogation of prisoners. Can anyone say mid-term elections?

Of course we've all heard the about the "docu-drama" "Path to 9/11" that literally makes stuff up and improvises to blame clinton for things leading to the biggest terrorist attack on US soil that occurred on bush's watch, while of course omitting the seven minute reading of My Pet Goat or the August 2001 memo reading "Bin Laden determined to strike in US". There's plenty-o-crap on the abc/disney GOP-u-drama out there. At this point with scholastic pulling the "educational" accompaniment out of high schools and former President Clinton howlin' at mickey mouse's handlers abc might actually pull the whole thing.

With the exception of the Simpsons 18th Season Premiere, I don't think I'll be watching much TV at all this weekend or Monday for that matter. Personally, I remember the attacks of September 11, 2001 very well, and if I forget them I can always look at the pictures I took that morning from across the Hudson River. Pictures of rising smoke, falling towers, and flying flags. I don't need a re-run of CNN's broadcast to remind my heart and mind of the shock and sorrow they felt that day, nor do I need the primetime speech from Our pet goat.

Speaking of the campaigner in chief, I would like to take a moment to agree with the R rated (at least) Rude Pundit's take on how the administration's "pedantic Nazi/Commie/Jihadi comparisons". I agree that they "have succeeded in elevating the status of Bin Laden and other terrorists to epic proportions." The nazis could have taken over an entire continent. The soviet union HAD the fire power to blow up the world. Not to belittle what happened five years ago Monday, but when put up against the destruction caused by state sponsored armies during WWII, et al. I mean let's step back, take a breath from the fear mongering and see what we have here. These "terrorists" are delusional, religious psychotics more akin to a network of serial killers than global powers.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Standing with feet firmly planted on the ground, I raise my right hand and extend it's middle finger to the United States Secretary of Defense donald rumsfeld for comparing me to those who appeased the Nazis. I stand with journalist, Keith Obermann, whose "special comment" on this incompetent who boasts of taking Baghdad 4 YEARS after we invaded Iraq is far more coherent and succinct then the action I take in my living room in front of my couch. Dissent is not Unpatriotic! Questioning this administration about the war in Iraq, which they started, which has now lasted longer than Our involvement in World War, is a neccesary check on an operation costing Us HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS and THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN LIVES. It is long overdue. True, there were millions of us worldwide questioning and protesting this war at and before its commencement, but finally there are some members of Congress, GOP included, doing their job as a branch of government EQUAL TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Finally there are some asking hard and important questions of bush's war in Iraq (knowing full well that this is happening during an election year). Iraq was not a safe haven for "Islamic extremists" before we invaded. The interesting thing about the bush/fox/wingnut talking points is that it is now. That's bush's war in Iraq's fault. The War in Iraq was/is the WRONG WAR. The taliban/opium warlord resurgence in Afghanistan IS proof of that.

So now that the distractions of suri cruise and jonbenet part II are over maybe, much to bill frist's dismay, the spotlight can refocus on the war this administration so ineptly planned. This war that is stretching our military. This war that has emboldened Our enemies and increased their numbers. This war that has cost Our Country $311,000,000,000.00+. This war that has taken resources and attenion from the war in Afghanistan and the hunt for bin laden. With hundreds of people dying daily in Iraq, where else should Our attention lie.

This administration and the rubber stamp, republican controlled, Congress have turned Our Nation's credibility in the world to rumble. They have taken the good will of the world and turned it into more hatred, anger, and frustration with the world's only nuclear superpower. I was recently confronted as an "America Hater". I do not hate America. I do hate the current "unilateral","pre-emptive strike", "shock and awe", not to mention "unitary executive" direction the current administration has taken us on. That direction needs to change! Come November, maybe it will.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

The Democrats are holding their elected officials accountable. It wasn't the "blogosphere" that did LIEberman in, it was his Iraq war rhetoric, his siding with bush at all costs, and his kissing of bush's ass on things like privatizing social security that made THE VOTERS OF CONNECTICUT vote against him. I guess he can stop pretending and take george and karl's help directly now.

I don't think it shows the "rise in progressive politics" being touted by some. I think it's a referendum on the current government in power, the failure in chief (whose on vacation again) and the rubber stamp congress. Boo-Yah!

And for the reds, you say we're putting the wacky wing of our party up. Look who the hell you put in office! And we are not weak on defense. It's the offensive, "premptive" policies of bush and friends we are against. The head general in Iraq is now warning of civil war, and bush's israel can do whatever they want policy has even got "Condi" pissed off. The Arab nations we are going to "democratize" hate us more than ever.

1- Go to Google2- Type in the word "Failure" 3- Instead of clicking "Google Search," click "I'm Feeling Lucky." 4- see search results. 5- Spread the wordUpdate: "My God, here we have a terrorist threat against hearth and home and the very first thing that comes out of their mind is how can we turn this to partisan advantage. I find that offensive," Ned Lamont said in an interview Sunday with The Associated Press.

Friday, July 21, 2006

It seems that bush administration has lost it's "roadmap to peace" in the middle east, if one ever existed. Maybe it flew out the window on the "road to Baghdad" when we attacked a Moslem nation with a secular government based on intelligence that no one else though actionable, certainly not actionable enough for an all out invasion and occupation. So as condi finally goes to the region plan to push a US plan to end the destruction that Israel is perpetrating on Lebanese civilians in the name of its war on hezbollah, and the less effective destruction perpetrated by hezbollah and the unguided missiles they continue to lob into Israel killing tens of people, one wonders if there can ever be peace. Over 300, probably closer to 400, people have been killed in Lebanon. Most of them were civilians. 500,000+ refugees have fled the merciless bombings of Beirut, Lebanese suburbs, and the civilian infrastructure of a fledgling democracy, once touted as an example of the change in the middle east that was brought on by bush's war on Iraq, which just had one of its most violent weeks of the year. So violent, in fact, it seems the head of the CIA is blocking an effort to figure out if Iraq IS in a civil war. Who will pay for the decimated infrastructure of Lebanon? Will Israel do what the US is doing in Iraq and remain until the country and NEW, democratically elected, government, which includes hezbollah, is up and running? Will they "arrest" the democratically elected members of the Lebanese government that they do not approve of as they did with the Palestinian democratically elected government?

30+ people have died in Israel from missiles fired by hezbollah, some flying further than anyone thought possible. The buffer of Lebanese troops along the southern border of Lebanon does not and has not yet existed. Can a new government dismantle a military militia that no else has been able to for decades? Will the Lebanese people turn against the only group that is giving them any immediate aid since Israel started bombing the, to use a presidential word, "shit" out of their country, its water treatment facilities and its power plants? Is Iran and Syria behind hezbollah's every move or are they supplying them with weapons as we are Israel? Hell, we used to support saddam.

The war mongering chicken hawk reds are calling for an all out war on all of them. Let me remind them that we haven't finished Afghanistan yet, and Iraq is getting worse. Even the "grand old" reds are turning against the neo-con induced Iraq war at this point (and I'm not just talking about Charles Barkley). Syria has a large standing army and who knows what weapons and Iran.... They may be up there with North Korea, whose recent ballistic missile test didn't go as well as the one We just had. I can only hope that they are not as far along as Pakistan. And what will happen to all the precious oil under the feet of a regional war in the middle east.

I would much rather be funny. I’d rather make jokes about the groper in chief and how it’s OK to go around rubbing female foreign dignitaries. I would rather type about how it would be nice to have a president who was eloquent whether the mic was on or off, instead of having one who is neither. Hell, I'd rather write about how its seems to be up to celebrities to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the government’s inadequate and delayed response in New Orleans. Can anyone say $400,000,000,000.00 on the war in Iraq? And speaking of delay, tommy has to stay on the ticket for a congressional seat he's resigned from and now he has to close down his political action committee (PAC) after being fined over $100,000.00 by the FEC. "Christian" conservative ralph reed losing in Georgia might be a nice way to segway into jack abramhoff and his affect on the turning of the tide in DC. But I just can't seem to think about anything but the killing and devastation that most, if not all, of the civilized world has called a "disproportionate" response to the kidnapping of two soldiers (who, by the way, are military targets).

Religious controversies are always productive of more acrimony and irreconcilable hatreds than those which spring from any other cause.-George Washington I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.-Thomas Jefferson

Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.-Thomas Jefferson

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Thursday, June 15, 2006

When did a one point increase in the polls become a "surge" and a 37% approval rating become good?

Did the president "surprise" Iraq with a visit to negotiate an amnesty deal for "insurgents" that kill US or non-Iraqis?

Why does the hate speak of the likes of A.C. (insert your own words/names) continue to be best selling?

If we didn't need an additional $66,000,000,000.00 for Iraq and Afghanistan would we still have had to cut Our Nation's Security funding in top targets like New York City?

I've been told by a friend whose son was stationed in Baghdad that a 500 lb. bomb would reduce 10 city blocks to rumble. So how did al qaeda's "leader" in Iraq come out of a building, that was hit by two of them, with bruises and a fatal "lung injury"?

Why wasn't the president told a White House reporter was blind before he made fun of his sunglasses?

Why doesn't anyone care about illegal voting machines and seriously questionable elections in the United States of America?

Why did it take president Gina Davis to make me realize that according to Our Constitution women are still not equal to men?

When will the US Congress stop with faux debates and campaign ad fodder votes and sit down to seriuosly discuss/debate the realities of the president's War in Iraq and what we should do from here? Enough with the "stay the course" and "cut and run" abstracts already.

Will the United States government eventually regret giving the new Iraqi "iron fist" "government" financial and weapon support like they do now their support for the former dictatorial regime?

Tuesday, June 06, 2006

Yesterday was the 25th anniversary of the first diagnosis of the global threat of AIDS, a disease that now affects 40.3 million adults and children and is spreading. Did the president take this moment in time to assemble the press and make a statement on one of his former "top priorities"? No. Yesterday 50 people were kidnapped at Iraq bus stations by gunmen dressed in police uniforms. Did our president take this time to make a statement on a war we are currently fighting, a war that he started? No. Yesterday the Dow Jones Industrial average dropped over 199 points on fears of a slowing economy and inflation. Did the president take this moment to reassure a nation about its economy? No. Yesterday oil prices once again rose to over $73 a barrel, on threats of Iran cutting its supply. Did the president, a former oil man with friends in high places in the oil industry both domestic and middle eastern, address the Nation's concerns with rising fuel costs or the ongoing negotiations with Iran? No.

Instead the president of the United States chose to take this "critical time in Our Nation's history" to preach to the religious right choir in the Old Executive Building (as opposed to the originally scheduled Rose Garden) on the "federal marriage amendment". No, this isn't an amendment aimed at ending divorce. This is an amendment defining marriage as being between a man and a woman, discriminating against people who want to pair off and spend the rest of their life together based on their gender. It is not just an amendment to a particular law, it is an amendment to OUR CONSTITUTION. To attach an amendment to the US Constitution first the Senate needs to approve it, and not by a simple majority (51 votes) but by a "super majority" (67 votes) which this amendment has no chance of doing.

So with every other serious issue facing the Nation, including being in a time of war in Afghanistan, Iraq, and against the noun terror, the president chose to hold one of his infrequent public addresses to support an amendment that has no chance of passing the US Senate, which means it won't be put to a vote for the two thirds majority it would need in the House of Representatives in order to be put to the people of the United States, who according to most polls are well divided and no where near the two thirds majority needed for ratification. One of the political reasons this distractor in chief is counting on is the continuing of his dividing of Our country. The other is the worst display of pandering I have ever seen, fully realizing the pandering of presidents like Clinton.

The question is will the republicans be fooled again? Will they be stupid enough to fall for these blatantly empty words again? If you know a republican, ask them if they are bamboozled by the president's latest politcal ploy to rally "his" people around this intolerant and impossible amendment to the greatest living document of democracy in the world. An amendment that takes away the choice of millions of Americans.

You know what I think? I think the government should change everything that has the word marriage in it to the words "civil union" and leave things like the "sacrament" and "sanctity" of marriage to churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and other places of worship, not to mention the engaged individuals themselves. Or there's always letting the States handle it, as they do issues like the death penalty.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

The deck chairs on the Hindenburg continue to shuffle as the other snow resigns, and Henry Paulson, who might not be all bad, takes over as the Secretary of the Treasury. This latest shuffling still leaves the big toe over at the defense department intact, despite recent calls from American Muslims for him to "spend more time with his family". These latest calls are in direct response to what so far seems to be the killing of two dozen unarmed civilians, including women and children, in a town called Haditha. Haditha isn't the only reported incident that is sure to blacken Our already pot/kettle black image around the globe. More reports of illegal killings are being reported, even by our latest ally in the war on terror, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki. The Prime Minister may have been the catalyst for the latest bush flip flop. This time on talks with Iran concerning their nuCLEar program. The Prime Minister had stated a week or so prior that he supports Iran's nuclear program. But hey, more power to the liberated, right? Look at Afghanistan. They're so liberated there that they are throwing Anti-American riots in the streets. The reported last straw that led to it was a vehicular accident. You think that animosity has been building?

Speaking of the liberated, the violence in Iraq continues. The town of Basra was recently declared a state of emergency. But where in Iraq isn't it a state of emergency? There still isn't electricity around the clock. The killing of soldiers, police, journalists, innocents continues every day. Even the campaigner-in-chief and his lapdog ally were forced to hold back on their troop draw down announcement at their co-dependent press conference. Instead lil' george finally apologized for making statements like "bring 'em on" and "wanted dead or alive" (he's still alive).

The bright side of all of this for the administration is that they can call "war time" forever, or until all terror is wiped from the planet, whichever comes first. They call it when telling internet companies they have to save surfing data on everyone for two years. They can call it when they raid the Capitol Hill offices of sitting members of Congress. It's a wonder they didn't raid the red offices of delay (who thinks colbert is for real), ney, frist, hastert, cunningham, lewis, and the rest of the republican culture of corruption. Politics in play?? You think?? There's a democrat in the mix now, so they can try to say it's both sides of the isle. It's like 15 reds to 1 Democrat, but whose counting. They call "war time" when they illegally wiretap the phones of US citizens or collect our phone records. The architect of "domestic surveillanece" is now the Director of the CIA as part of the bush "part of a scandal/failure" promotion program.

At least we can feel safe knowing that the top terrorist targets are getting the "homeland security' money they need. Oh wait they cut New York by 40%, partly because NYC has no "nationalmonuments or icons". Who knows the reasoning behind the cuts to Washington D.C. Me, I'm moving to Omaha. The increase in funding they're getting will keep me safe.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

While the propaganda machine’s former fox “news” anchor mouth piece talks of “tar babies” and the president reduces Our citizenship to paperwork as he tells us that as long as you speak English you can go from "picking crops to opening a grocery from cleaning offices to running offices", one can’t help to sense a little racism, though I’m sure it wasn’t meant intentionally. I don’t think they even realize how racist they are, not to mention disconnected and disrespectful of working class CITIZENS that are legally in this country and doing those jobs.

Li’l bush’s “see I can please everyone/I’m a middle of the road guy” speech on immigration the other night stopped short of penalizing employers that employ people that are in this country illegally. Surprise! Surprise! He informed us that illegal immigrants can join the ranks of our armed forces. He also told us that people in this country illegally do the work that “Americans don’t do” (maybe that’s because the illegal immigrants are doing the jobs).

Speaking of the CIA, coming soon to a hearing near you, the man instrumental in the NSA “domestic surveillance” program, the existence of which former fox news anchor/press secretary “can not confirm or deny”. Michael Hayden is the man the failure-in-chief wants as the Director of the CIA, and for the same exact reason he wanted the last Director, porter goss. Big Brother could never take over in a country as free as ours, could it?

I guess I’ll just leave you with this from the very unlikely source of the president of Iran, in his letter to george w. bush:"If billions of dollars spent on security, military campaigns and troop movement were instead spent on investment and assistance for poor countries, promotion of health, combating different diseases, education and improvement of mental and physical fitness, assistance to the victims of natural disasters, creation of employment opportunities and production, development projects and poverty alleviation, establishment of peace, mediation between disputing states and distinguishing the flames of racial, ethnic and other conflicts were would the world be today? Would not your government, and people be justifiably proud? Would not your administration's political and economic standing have been stronger? And I am most sorry to say, would there have been an ever increasing global hatred of the American governments?"

Monday, April 24, 2006

Neil Young's latest CD, "Living with War", was written and recorded in 9 days (that's including a 100 person chorus singing "America the Beautiful"). The CD is available online, in it's entirety, FOR FREE. Oh and by the way, everyone that worked on "Living with War" was union. The Canadian that penned "Ohio" is back with avengence. And I for one can't wait. I mean with songs like "Shock and Awe", "Looking for a Leader", and "Let's Impeach the President" what's not to like. Neil is not alone in his dissent. Check out country legend Merle Haggard's "Rebuild America First". And I'm no Pink fan, but her "Dear Mr. President" is a solid, hard biting song that tells the liar in chief that he "don't know nothin' bout 'hard work'".

We've all heard, and continue to hear, the protest songs of the sixties. We find ourselves in a similar position lately, and the arts are starting to catch up. Whether it's Rolling Stone's latest cover story, a movie about a reality show president, or the latest venture of GeorgeClooney, politics seems to be infiltrating our "Don't Worry Be Happy" apathy. Of course there's plenty of fluff out there, and you can't even rely on the news to give the news (most of the time). These pieces of artistic activism are welcome, and I think indicative of a society that is awakening to realize they have been bamboozled into thinking the president and his minions were honest, would keep us safe, or at least gave a shit about the common United States citizen and not just their CEO, "ownership society".

How much do I know?To talk outta turnYou might say that I'm YoungYou might say I'm unlearnedWell there's one thing I knowThough I'm younger than youThat even Jesus would never forgive what you do.-Bob Dylan "Masters of War"